Rail-joint.



D. BROUSSBAU.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION IILED FEB. 7, 1913.

Patented May 27, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

name 49300055440 Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOOIIAPH C0,,wAsNlNu'r0N D c D.BROUSSEAU.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED 21:12. 1913.-

Patented May 27, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

pa a/.9 1590055540 Inventor Witnesses:

Attorneys UNITED STATES PA EN OFFICE.

DELPHISJ BROUSSEAU, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR- 0F ONE EIGHTHTO EMERY DUFOUR AND- ONE-EIGHTH TO' PHILIAS BEAUSEJOUR, A BOTH OF MON-TREAL, CANADA.

BAIL-JOINT.

Application filed-February 7, 1913.

Specification of Letterslatent".

PatentedMay 27, I913.

Seria1"No.fZ46,'744..

- of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada,

have inventech certain: new. and useful Improvementsin' Rail-Joints; andI do. hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to rail joints;

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation, and useof the inven tion, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of the present application.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings like reference charactersdesignate the same parts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side perspective View of a rail jointembodying my invention, in closed position; Fig. 2 is the same, partlyopened; Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of one of the rail ends usedin my joint; Fig. t is a perspective view of one of the tie flangeclasps; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a rail joint embodying myinvention, in closed position; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of therail ends used in my joint; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, takenon a line just below the tread portion, looking down; and Fig. 8 is asectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In this joint the contiguous ends of the rails l and 2 are cut awayvertically to the center of each rail and on the opposite sides oftherails; for a short distance back from the ends; thus forming projectingmembers 1 and 2 each being equal transversely to half of a rail. Byreason of the cut away portions of the rails being on the opposite sidesof the rails the inner vertical faces of themembers 1 and 2 will beoppositely opposed. The members 1' and 2 are provided with T shapedopenings 3 through the outer end of the web portion 4: of each memberand with T shaped keys 5 near the inner end of the inner face of the webportion f of the members 1 and 2 and integral therewith. The T shapedkeys 5 are in the same horizontal plane as the T shaped openings 3 butheaded in the opposite direction: The

head 6 of T shaped key: dis-spaced: from the face of thezwebpontioni soas to leave a slot 7 equal in; width to the thickness. of the webportionsofthemembersl and 2 A block. 8 isisecured to the web portion ofeach rail,v at the: inner end of the cut away port1on,so as to projectin front ofthe vertical faces of the membersl' and 2;. a short distance,so; as to. form an inner end slot9 equal.

in width to; the thicknessof the web portiona h.

Onithesbase flangesv 1J0of each. rail isslidably mounted. a: rigidclasp. member 111, for purposes to: be explained. The I? shaped openings3; and; the T shapedkeys. 5 correspond in size and shape,

with the exception: that the: stemsv of the Ti shaped? openings;- 3 aremuch longerrthan the: stems. of the 'I? shapedi keys 5. llhese openingsare equally spaced on the members 15 and 25* and. .o ositeli; o osedand: adapted to be interli ked. y pp 7 The operation is as follows: Themembers l and 2 are placed with their inner vertical faces together, sothat the T shaped keys 5 project through the T shaped openings 3 of therespective members, as in Fig. 2. The rails 1 and 2 are then slid towardeach other. The members 1 and 2 operate slidably on each other, inopposite directions, so as to bring the shoulders of the head 6 of the Tshaped keys 5 into overlapping position over the sides of the stemportion of the T shaped openings 3, as in Fig. 1. When the joint isclosed as in Fig. 7

1, the outer end web portion of each of the members I and 2 is receivedin the inner end slot 9 of its abutting member, so as to prevent anylateral movement of the members. Each of the members 1 and 2- beingequal transversely to half of a rail, when the joint is made acontinuous rail is formed. If desired a rigid clasp member 11 isslidably mounted on the base flanges 10 ofthe rails 1 and 2, so thatafter the joint is made the clasps may be moved to a positionoverlapping the base part of each end of the joint and secured there bymeans of spikes or other suitable means, for strengthening purposes.

The advantages of this rail joint are: its

strength and that, as will be obvious, the 1 0 joint can be adjusted toallow for expansion and contraction of the rails, thus eliminating thedanger of twisted rails. This joint also does away with the fish plates,bolts, washers, &c., used in the ordinary rail joint, and the attendantcost of such elements.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and use of the inventionwill be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rail joint, reversely disposed members transversely equal tohalf of a rail, interlocking keys and openings carried by the webportions of the members, blocks integral with the web portion of therail and so disposed at the base of each of the reversely disposedmembers as to form a slot for the reception of the Web portion of theouter end of its abutting member, and rigid clamp members disposed overthe base portion of each end of the joint for strengthening purposes, incombination.

2. In a rail joint, reversely disposed members each transverselyequal'to half of a rail and slidably operative one on the other,oppositely headed T shaped openings and keys carried by the web portionsof the.

members and adapted to be interlocked,

blocks integral with the web portion of the rail and projecting over theinner end of each member so as to form a slot for the reception of theweb portion of the outer end of its abutting member, and a rigid claspmember slidably mounted on the base flanges of the joints and adapted tobrace each end of the joint, in combination.

3. In a rail joint, reversely disposed members each transversely equalto half of a rail and slidably operative on each other,

T shaped keys carried at the inner end on the inner face of the webportion of each member, T shaped openings through the web portion ofeach member near the outer end thereof and adapted to interlock with theT shaped keys, blocks integral with the web portion of the rail at thebase of each member and adapted to brace the web portion of the outerend of the abutting member, and slidably mounted bracing base clasps, incombination.

In witness'whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

DELPHIS BROUSSEAU.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

